Justice Unity Party

The Justice Unity Party (Thai: พรรคสามัคคีธรรม, rtgs: Phak Samakkhi Tham) was a Thai pro-military and conservative political party established after the military coup d'état of 1991.^[1] It was founded by Narong Wongwan, who became party chairman, and others close to the National Peace Keeping Council. Samakkhi Tham represented the interests of the military, bureaucracy and provincial business owners.^[1]

The party enjoyed the support of junta leader Air Chief Marshal Kaset Rojananil. The Justice Unity Party won the parliamentary election in March 1992 and nominated Suchinda Kraprayoon to become prime minister.^[1] In the following conflict between the military-backed government and the pro-democratic movement, Thai media counted the party among the so-called "devil parties". After the bloody crackdown on the oppositional movement ("Black May"), the party was discredited and most of its representatives deserted it to join more promising parties, mainly the National Development Party.^[2] The remaining rump of the party transformed into the Liberal Party in June 1992, and Sompong Amornwiwat became secretary-general. In September 1992 the party's executive committee resigned and the party ceased political activity.

References

1. Connors, Michael K. (2001), "Thailand", The Southeast Asia Handbook (Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers)
2. Surin Maisrikrod (1992), Thailand's Two General Elections in 1992: Democracy Sustained, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, p. 24

• Bangkok Post, "Same old faces?", 27 October 1991